Northern Region – Regional Secretary

The Regional Secretary is the senior paid official in the region. As the strategic head of the Regional Management Team the successful applicant will lead them on the delivery of UNISON’s agenda in the Northern Region.

We wish to appoint a dynamic, progressive and committed individual who understands the challenges facing the organisation and as a member of UNISON’s Senior Leadership Team can contribute to the development of organisational strategy and planning to achieve UNISON’s internal and external objectives and priorities.

The Job

The successful candidate will:

• Oversee the development and implementation of the national strategy in the Region and the regional plan to achieve UNISON’s national objectives including strategic accountability for policy development and the region’s political organisation and campaigning.
• Manage and provide strategic leadership to the Regional Management Team.
• Champion and lead the implementation of strategic change in the region.
• Promote partnership working with lay members through the region’s lay structures.
• Develop performance standards and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of achieving the Region’s stated aims.
   

The Person

• Dynamic and enthusiastic style of management and leadership with experience in leading major change management projects.
• Committed to the aims and values of UNISON.
• Politically aware of the challenges encountered by working across public services in a devolved nation.
• Considerable experience of handling the media and developing a media strategy.
• Be familiar with appreciative enquiry management techniques.
• Practical experience of complex negotiations and the achievement of collective bargaining and policy objectives during major reorganisation and change

To apply for this opportunity please download and complete the General application form on the UNISON website (under “Documents”). See job description and person specification (under “Documents”). Please note that only the General application form will be accepted.

The completed application form along with the Recruitment and Disability Monitoring Form should be sent by email to hrrecruitment@unison.co.uk quoting the correct ref:  R4/1

Completed application forms must be received by no later than 23rd June 2026 at 5.00pm.

(Please save each of your documents to include your Full Name, Job Title, Region/Dept and Reference)

The interviews will be in two parts :

Media Interviews (Online)  will be held on 6th July 2026

Panel Interviews (In Person) will be held on the 7th July 2026

About UNISON

UNISON is the UK’s leading public services trade union, with over 1.3 million members working in the public sector, private, voluntary and community sectors and in the energy services. We employ approximately 1,200 staff, with around 370 at our national centre in Euston in central London and the remainder in our 12 regions across the UK, including Northern Ireland.

UNISON is a dynamic, progressive union, committed to equality. We encourage men and women of all ages, Black and minority ethnic groups, disabled people, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to work with us.